The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the bye-election for the Kaura-Namoda South Constituency in Zamfara State inconclusive.
The announcement was made by the Returning Officer, Professor Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University, Gusau. He explained that the margin between the two leading candidates was smaller than the number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in polling units where voting was cancelled, making it impossible to declare a definitive winner.
According to Professor Sa’adu, elections were cancelled in two registration areas—Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards—due to various irregularities. In Sakajiki (code 06), two polling units were affected, with 1,357 registered voters and 1,298 PVCs collected. In Kyambarawa (code 05), three polling units were impacted, comprising 4,088 registered voters and 1,964 collected PVCs.
In total, 5,446 voters were registered in the affected areas, with 3,265 PVCs collected—surpassing the vote margin between the top two parties.
Preliminary results showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) leading with 7,001 votes, followed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 5,339 votes—a difference of 1,662 votes. Since this margin is less than the number of collected PVCs in the cancelled units, INEC cited provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (Sections 24(2)(3), 47(3), and 51(2)) to justify declaring the election inconclusive.
APC Reacts, Describes Bye-Election as "Tough"
In response, the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) issued a statement on Sunday expressing gratitude to its supporters and voters who turned out for the bye-election. The party described the election as "tough and tense," claiming that voters faced intimidation and harassment.
“No doubt, the election was tough, tense, and conducted under very harsh conditions as the government in power used all its illegal machinery to threaten and harass the electorate, yet the people remained focused and resilient,” the statement by APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, read.
The APC also praised its supporters for their turnout and resilience, singling out key party leaders such as Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for their continued support.
The party criticized the PDP-led state government, alleging poor governance and failure to meet the needs of the people. It claimed the election outcome demonstrated public dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s performance.
The APC called for calm among its members and supporters, urging them to await INEC’s final decision while warning against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
“The state APC leadership strongly assures that any move to change the people’s mandate will be vehemently resisted,” the statement said.
The party also commended voters in Kyambarawa, Banga, Sakajiki, Kurya, Dan-Isa, and Kagara for their turnout despite what it described as security threats and intimidation.
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